St. John Rivers in Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Brontë‘s celebrated novel Jane Eyre, the character of St. John Rivers serves as a pivotal figure in the protagonist’s life. Representing the epitome of Victorian religious zeal and missionary ardor, St. John is depicted as a man of stern disposition and unwavering sense of duty. He is introduced as a clergyman who encounters Jane after she flees from Thornfield Hall, providing her with shelter and eventual kinship.

Unlike other characters in the novel who are swayed by passion, St. John’s relationship with Jane is characterized by an austerity that aligns with his spiritual ambitions. His interactions with Jane Eyre provide a stark contrast to her previous experiences with love and passion, particularly her complex relationship with Mr. Rochester. As a character, St. John Rivers is instrumental to Jane’s development, pushing her to consider her values and the balance between duty and emotion.

Brontë uses St. John to explore themes of sacrifice, vocation, and the struggle between human desires and the higher calling of one’s conscience. While he is seen as cold and sometimes even harsh in his expectations, St. John Rivers is also portrayed as a character with unwavering integrity, guiding Jane to her ultimate self-realization and contributing to the intricate mosaic that makes Jane Eyre a classic examination of character, identity, and the search for belonging.

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1. St. John Rivers Character Analysis

St. John Rivers is a complex character, presenting a life of reserve and piety as well as serving key thematic contrasts in the narrative.

Personality Traits

St. John Rivers is an austere and morally stringent individual with a strong religious fervor that directs his life. His personality exhibits a cold reserve that often veils his true emotions, revealing a man dedicated to his missionary ambitions. This dedication is so intense that it often overshadows warmer feelings, making him appear stoic and impassive.

• Reserve: Manifests a controlled demeanor, often interpreted as a lack of emotion.
• Austerity: Practices rigorous self-discipline, focusing primarily on his duties.
• Moral Integrity: Highly principled, with a firm adherence to a moral code.
• Religious Zeal: Possesses a passionate commitment to his missionary work.

Contrast with Edward Rochester

St. John Rivers serves as a narrative contrast to Edward Rochester, Jane Eyre’s primary love interest. Unlike the passionate and fiery Rochester, St. John is defined by his self-restraint and religious conviction.

• Edward Rochester: Passionate, impulsive, and carrying a dark past.
• St. John Rivers:
  • Passion: Subdues personal passion for a life of service.
  • Conviction: Chooses duty over desire, contrasting Rochester’s indulgent nature.

Role as a Foil to Jane

St. John Rivers acts as a foil to Jane Eyre, highlighting her internal struggle between passion and reason. His life of self-denial presents an alternative path to the one Jane ultimately chooses.

• Jane Eyre: Seeks balance between passion and conscience.
• St. John Rivers: Embodies the extreme of moral duty and self-sacrifice.

St. John’s Relationships

His relationships are characterized by his sense of duty and his desire to lead a life dedicated to religious service, which affects his interactions and demonstrates the cost of his chosen path.

• Jane Eyre: Views her as a potential missionary partner, valuing her intellect and character yet devoid of romantic affection.
• Rosamond Oliver: Attracts St. John, but he denies his feelings for her due to his commitment to his missionary work, epitomizing his cold resolution to avoid personal attachments.
• Diana and Mary Rivers: His sisters, who provide a contrast to his solitary existence and offer a glimpse into his familial connections.

2. St. John’s Missionary Zeal

St. John Rivers’ fervent commitment to his religious mission underpins his interactions and choices throughout Jane Eyre. His determination to spread his faith in India is a cornerstone of his character.

Proposal to Jane

St. John Rivers presents his proposal to Jane Eyre not merely as a matter of affection but as a joining of moral and religious purposes. He sees Jane as a partner in his missionary work – a companion who shares his values and ambitions. His proposal is delivered with a sense of righteous duty rather than romantic passion, emphasizing the sacrifices needed for their potential life in India. However, Jane ultimately rejects his proposal, realizing that a marriage without love would be a betrayal of her values and desires.

• Religious Conviction: St. John’s resolve is deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, and he views his calling to be a missionary as a righteous path demanding full commitment.
• Moral Obligation: He believes it is their moral responsibility to serve in a foreign land, aiding society by spreading their faith and literacy.
• Ambition: His ambition is not for personal gain but to fulfill what he perceives as God’s plan for him, indicating a strong passion for his vocation.
• Passion for Mission Work: St. John’s passion manifests as an unwavering seriousness towards his commitment to missionary work, which overshadows personal desires.

In proposing to Jane, St. John Rivers does not offer love in the traditional sense; he offers a life of shared service, driven by a staunch zeal to fulfill his religious destiny.

3. Romantic Dynamics

St. John Rivers’ interactions with Rosamond Oliver and Jane Eyre exemplify contrasting views and dynamics of romantic relationships.

Rosamond Oliver’s Influence

St. John Rivers experiences a complex relationship with Rosamond Oliver, characterized by deep attraction yet firm resistance to this passion due to his sense of duty. He is profoundly affected by Rosamond’s beauty and vivaciousness, which elicits a sense of joy and passion that he seldom displays. However, his commitment to his missionary work and belief in marital utility override these feelings, leading him to suppress his affection and avoid marriage with her, believing it would hinder his ambitions. Rosamond represents the life of domestic happiness and emotional fulfillment that St. John consciously chooses to reject.

• Affection: Acknowledgment of love towards Rosamond.
• Duty: Commitment to missionary work over personal desires.
• Suppression: Conscious effort to control emotions for Rosamond.

Comparison of St. John’s and Jane’s Views on Love

St. John Rivers and Jane Eyre hold distinctly different views on love and marriage, creating a stark contrast between them. St. John values utility and comradeship over passion in a union, seeing marriage as a partnership towards a common goal rather than a result of romantic love. His proposal to Jane emphasizes this viewpoint:

• St. John’s Proposal: Offer of marriage to Jane based on shared work and respect, devoid of love.
• Jane’s Stance: Belief in emotional connection and equal affection as the foundation of marriage.

Jane’s rejection of St. John’s proposal is a pivotal moment in the novel, affirming her belief in the importance of mutual love and respect in marriage. Their relationship is also a contrast to Jane’s intense, passionate connection with Mr. Rochester, illustrating different potential paths of joy and fulfillment in the spectrum of love. St. John’s approach to love is succinctly more reserved and pragmatic, while Jane champions the importance of heartfelt passion and equality, which she considers essential for happiness in a marriage.

• Contrast with Rochester: St. John’s love is starkly different from the passionate bond Jane shares with Mr. Rochester.
• Joy and Duty: Jane seeks joy through love; St. John places duty above personal happiness.

4. The Rivers Siblings and St. John’s Family Role

St. John Rivers and his sisters, Mary and Diana, play a pivotal role in the unfolding of Jane’s identity and fortune through their intricate family dynamics and significant discovery.

Family Dynamics

The Rivers siblings, comprising St. John, Mary, and Diana, present a familial unit bound by affection and moral values. Orphaned and left with a meager inheritance, their financial status is modest, with no apparent wealth or fortune to claim. St. John, the sole brother, is characterized by his stern demeanor and commitment to his duties as a clergyman, often placing his missionary work above all else. His sisters, Mary Rivers and Diana Rivers, are compassionate and educated, providing a nurturing environment in contrast to their brother’s austerity, and offering Jane a sense of belonging and stability she had previously lacked.

Diana and Mary, despite their reduced circumstances, are content and maintain a humble but genteel lifestyle. They both respect and admire St. John, though they are not blind to his imperious nature and the emotional distance it creates. Their admiration is particularly evident when he decides to forsake the prospect of a comfortable life for his religious vocation.

The Discovery of Cousins

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the Rivers siblings discover a transformative familial connection. Mr. Briggs, a solicitor, reveals that the siblings are, in fact, cousins to the protagonist, Jane Eyre. This revelation is crucial as it unlocks the truth about Jane’s inheritance and identity.

Jane’s newfound cousins have a profound impact on her life. Through this kinship, she receives a substantial inheritance previously left by an uncle. The equitable division of this fortune among the siblings cements their bond and alters their collective fate. St. John, Mary, and Diana benefit financially, with each receiving twenty thousand pounds – an event that reshapes their prospects and relationship with Jane. This discovery not only changes their financial situation but also deepens Jane’s connection to the Rivers family, providing her with a sense of family she had longed for.

The dynamics within the Rivers family, their response to newfound wealth, and the evolving relationship with Jane illustrate the central themes of family and fortune in Jane Eyre. The siblings’ embodiment of moral integrity and kindness serves as a contrast to the harsh and often cruel world Jane has known, highlighting the novel’s commentary on social class and familial bonds.

5. St. John’s Influence on Jane’s Independence

St. John Rivers presents a complex influence on Jane Eyre’s journey toward independence. When St. John offers Jane a marriage proposal, it sets her at a crossroads between societal expectations and her quest for self-reliance.

Marriage Proposal: St. John proposes to Jane not out of love, but duty. He views her as a suitable companion for his missionary work in India. Jane, valuing her autonomy, grapples with this proposal. It represents conventional societal norms versus her inherent wish for independence and mutual affection in marriage. Jane’s refusal of the proposal is a pivotal moment in the novel, asserting her belief in the importance of love and mutual respect in marriage.

Inheritance Factor: Upon receiving an unexpected inheritance, Jane’s socioeconomic status shifts.

• Before Inheritance: Dependent on employment for sustenance, treated as inferior by many.
• After Inheritance: Gains significant wealth, sharing it with her newfound family, which includes St. John, thus securing her financial independence from him and society. This financial independence allows Jane to make choices based on her values and desires, rather than out of necessity or societal expectations.

St. John’s Influence: St. John, through his rigid expectations, unknowingly urges Jane to evaluate her values. His neglect of emotional intimacy in favor of a pragmatic partnership reinforces Jane’s resolve to seek love that respects her independence.

Fortune and Society: Despite his family ties to Jane, St. John remains detached from wealth, focusing instead on spiritual duty. His indifference to worldly wealth and societal norms inadvertently prompts Jane to consider the importance of balancing her fortune with personal freedom and desires.

Under St. John’s inadvertent guidance, Jane’s resolve is tested and fortified. She chooses independence, underscoring the critical distinction between societal expectations and self-fulfillment.